Today's adventure

This afternoon was a nice sunny but not too hot day, so we went as we sometimes do to Broadmoor, a local Audubon Society sanctuary. We always see turtles, sometimes frogs, and earlier this summer had seen the cygnets (baby swans) when they were small grey and fluffy, with their parents standing guard. Saw some ducks and some frogs.

Today Paul got some great pictures, the swans are considered an invasive species and so are not beloved by the Audubon folks. We watched them eat the algae and small plants for a while, then they all lined up to change spots -- it was neat how they just naturally all fell into line!

Papa is in the lead, and the fourth cygnet then mama are just out of the frame:

It's amazing how big they are, but they are still dark grey.

There were a couple very small painted turtles sunning themselves, here's Paul's best shot of one

And the biggest delight was seeing a Great Blue Heron - it was pretty far from us, way out in the middle of the marshy area, so I think this shot came out extremely well ...

Wow, I didn't know swans could be considered invasive. There is a park across the street from where I work. It has a pond, and a pair of swans were brought there to help dissuade too many Canada geese from sticking around. These are terrific pictures! I hardly ever get to see a turtle in person.

I've been Boo'd... right off the stage!

Aaahh, I have been defrosted! Thank you, Bonny and Asiel!
Brrrr, I've been Frosted! Thank you, Asiel and Pomtzu!

"That's the power of kittens (and puppies too, of course): They can reduce us to quivering masses of Jell-O in about two seconds flat and make us like it. Good thing they don't have opposable thumbs or they'd surely have taken over the world by now." -- Paul Lukas

What a beautiful place! I had no idea that swans are considered invasive! Around here, that's the general opinion of Canada Geese. Love the turtle! It made me think back to high school, one summer I got to babysit the turtles from the biology lab. Great pictures, Paul.

Swans are not native to North America, but to Europe and Russia specifically. Think Swan Lake!

Here they were imported for their beauty, but in some places they can be destructive of underwater plants that native species prefer. The Canadian Geese are also getting to be a problem, numbers-wise in some places, and have extended their range further south than it traditionally existed. Swans, funny enough, have been brought in in some places to cut down on the number of Canadian Geese, as swans are monogamous and very territorial, unlike the geese who can hang about in ever-increasing flocks.

Paul is by far the most patient photographer ever, so gets better wildlife pictures! My camera batteries were dead, so I didn't take any that day!

Some turtles feed on the cynets when they are very small. We have the turtles, Canadian geese, ducks, swans and herons at Turner Reservoir (where I walk the dogs at Bridgham Farm). I hate going in Spring as you see 9 cygnets and then there are only 8 . . . . I know it is Nature, but it makes me sad.

Did not know swans will move the geese out; that hasn't occurred at the Reservoir, lol, they all seem to co exist.